Stoker.



Nss

STOKER.

APPLIGATIQN FILED SEPT. 25, 1913, y

Patented Feb; 9, wmt

STEVENS.

Sfroma.. PL'ATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1913.y

Patenoe Feb. 9, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

nNooH P. STEVENS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIc-Noa or ONE-FOURTH 'ro JOSEPH EARRING-toit, or RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS.

' s'roKER.

' -S'pecicat-on of Letters Patent.

Patented lFeb. 9, 1915..

Application filed September 25, 1913. Serial No. 791,690.

-and refers particularly to that class of stokers vin which the fuel is automaticallyadvanced through the fire box of the .furnace.

'The object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient mechanism by which the body of lfuel is advanced along the grate, and this result I accomplish by providing means for reciprocating the grate .as a whole. This reciprocation 1s gradual 1n one Vdirection and rapid in the opposite direction, with the result that the inertia of the fuel itself is utilized to advance the fuel over the grate surface.

As an auxiliary object of my invention, I also provide means for automatically delivering the ashes from an ash pan While 'the body of f uel is being moved over the grate surface.

. My invention is particularly useful in locomotive fire boxes, but may' also be advantageously used in stationary furnaces.

These and other advantages of my inven- 'tion -Will be more readily understood by refverence to the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal section through the fire box of a locomotive, shown ing my improved stoker in position. This view is taken` on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

- Fig. 2 is a .planand partial horizontal section of a portion of the grate shown in Fig.

1 and the actuating mechanism therefor.

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged-side elevation and partial sectional View of the cam mechanism and its associated parte for'actuating the grate. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the fire box of a stationary furnace, showing a `modified form of construction. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5. l

Referring first to Figs. 1 to i4, inclusive, I will describe the form of Stoker' which 1s particularly applicable for use in locomotiyo tire b xes. The fire box 10 is provided with the ront Wall or flue-sheet 1f, in connection with which is formed the Water-leg 12. 'Ihe rear Wall 13 ofthe r'e box has the vater-leg 14, and has passing therethrough the iire door 15.- The side sheets 16 of the fire box 10'have ontheir outer sides the waterflegs 17. I

The grate bars 18 are supported in a grate frame ,19, of rectangular shape, as best shown in Fig. 2. Around its edge this grate lframe 19 is offset, forming the shouldered support 20 for the grate bars 18, as clearly show-n in Figs. 1 and 3.

Attached to the side sheets 16 of the fire box are the two brackets 21, which are preferably placed opposite to each other on the tivo sides of the fire box. Attached to each of the brackets 21 is the link or toggle 22, which is pivotally attached to they grate frame 19. Toward .the front end of the re box 10l the brackets 23 are attached to the side sheets 16, and these brackets serve to pivotally support the plate 24 having 'the reinforced -or enlarged edges 25,25. This plate is also pivotally attached to the front end of the grate frame 19.

Pivotally attached to the rear end of the grate frame 19 are the two propelling shafts 26, each of Whichl passes through the bearing guides 2 7 and23, which aresuitably attached to the floor 29. Each of the shafts 26-is provided with a threaded portion 30 on which is lmounted the correspondingly 4threaded adjusting block 31 having thereon the handle 32. The adjusting block 31 engages the bearing block 33, which has feath? ered connection with the shaft 26. It Will be readily understood that the position of the bearing block 33 on the shaft 26` may be adjusted by rotating the adjusting block 31. The'main drivir 'j shaft 34 extends in a transverse direction and is carried inthe bearings 35. This driving shaft 34 is rotated by any suitable mechanism, as for example, a belt engaging the pulley36 on the end of the Ishaft. 34. Rigidly mounted on the shaft 34 are the cams 37, Which are adapted to engage the bearingv blocks 33 carried by the shafts 26. x

Bolted to thev floor 29 is the bracket 38, Whichis integral with the 'cylinder 39 Within which the piston 40 operates. The cylinder.

#39 is inclosed by` a spring 4l bearing on one -end against the flange 42 of the cylinder 39 and on the other end against the inwardly eX- tending ange 43 of the sleeve 44. This sleeve 44 is provided with the piston rod 45 .attached to the piston40. The link 46 con'- nects the sleeve 44with'the rear end of the grate frame 19. It will be clear that the tendency of -the spring 41 is to move the sleeve44 and the grate frame 19 to the rear until the flange 43 of the sleeve 44 engages the flange 47 of the bracket 38.

In order to supply fuel, such as coal, to the grate bars 18, l provide the conduit 48 having the open portion 49 adjacent to the grate surface. The conveyer 50 passes through the conduit 48 and serves to bring the fuel into position at the rear end of the grate.' This feeding mechanism for the fuel forms no'part vof my present invention.

Having thus described the construction of the parts shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusivel the operation of the saine `may now be readily understood: The driving shaft`34' is constantly rotated in a clockwise :irection. When the cams 37 engage the bearing blocks 33, the latter, together with vthe shafts 26 and the grate frame 19', are forced forward. This movement continues until the cams 37 have rotated sutliciently so that they become disengaged from the bearing blocks 33. When this happens, the spring 41 becomes effective and rapidly moves the grate to the rear. Toward the rear end of the movement of the gate frame and its associated parts motion is eased by the action of the dash-pot constituted by the cylinder 39 and the piston 40.l The rearward movement of the various parts then con'- tinues slowly until the flange 43 of the sleeve 44 engages the surface 47 of. the bracket 31. As the grate frame moves forward by the action of the cams 37, it will be evident that it is'rocked onthe links 22 and the plate 24, and the bed of fuel resting on the grate bars 18 is, of course, carried forward withA the grate. When. the rapid movement to therear takes place the' inertia ofthe fuel causes it'to maintain its position and the grate is moved back from under the fuel. As this reciprocatory movement'takes place, slowly in one direction and rapidly inthe either, the fuel is gradually advanced over the grate toward the front end of the furnace. p The ashes pass over the front end of thev grate and fall through 'the space 51 i between the'front end of the grate and the Water-leg 12. The air which is introduced below the grate passesupwardly through the bed of fuel in the usual manner. It is prevented from passing in front of the front end ofthe grate by means of the partitionl 52 and the plate 2 i A-second embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The fire box 60 is provided in its side walls 61 with the angle irons 62. Extending transversely of the fire box and between these angle irons are the rollers 63, which serve to support the grate frame 64. This grate frame is provided on its two sides with the downwardly projecting abutment members 65 adapted to engage one of the cross rollers 63. The angle irons 62 mounted in the side walls 61 are provided with the downward extensions 66. To these extensions 66 are pivotally fastened the levers 67, which, at their upper ends, have slotted connection with the grate frame and at their lower ends have slotted connection with the ash pan 68, the latter being supported on the transverse rollers 69 and 70.

F ormed'integral or suitably attached to the angle irons 62 arethe lugs 71, to each of which is attached one end of the spring 72, the. opposite ends of each of these springs beingsuitably attached to the grate frame 64 by means of the threaded rod 73 and the adjusting nut 74. Attached to the grate frame 64 is the plate 75 bearing thereon the roller 76.l The driving shaft 77 is carried in brackets 78 mounted on the main framework of the furnace. This driving .shaft carries a cam v79 adapted to engage the roller-76.

Fuel is supplied to the grate bars 80 car* ried by the grate frame 64 through the hopper 81. At the inner end of the grate frame 64 the metallic curtain82 is fastened to the grate frame by means of the braces 83, the function of this curtain being to prevent the short-circniting of air from that portion of the fire box below the grate to the por Athis driving shaft engages the roller 76 and gradually moves the grate frame 64 to the. left from the position indicated in Fig. If desired, I ma)Y employ several cams 79 to engage a corresponding number ol' rollers 76 in order to insure evenness in the movement of the. grate frame. As this n'ioveuient of the grate frame to the left takes place the ash pan 68 is corrcspondingl)`- moved to the right. lVhen the roller 76 is freed from i its engagement with the cam 79 the spring orfsprings 72 become effective and rapidlv niove the grate frame 64 to the right until the abutment members 65 engage the transverse roller 63 against which these abutmanana ment members are adapted tocome.4 The result of this sudden stoppage 1n the move ment of the grate frame 6d isv to cause thel 'bed of fuel to continue its movement to the right over the grate bars for a short dis tance by reason of its own inertia. In this manner the fuel'is progressively moved by a series of steps along the grate bars and is f fradually consumed. A small quantity of ash falls between the grate bars themselves, but a great majority of the ash passes over the end of the lgrate onto the sloping surface 84. l/Vhen 4the grate frame Gel is moved 'to' the left the 'curtain 82 (which is for the purpose of preventing short-oircuiting of the. air) is removed from the sloping surface Si and the ashes are allowed to pass onto the ash pan 68 along which they are advanced in the same .manner that the fuel is advanced over the lgrate bars 80, since as the grate frame 64 movein one direction the'ash pan 68 .moves in tie opposite direction.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications of the stolrers which l have described could be made ivithout departingr `from the spirit or scope of my invention.

lVhat I claim is:

l. in an automa tic stolrer,` the combination 'i of a fire boX having therein a bodily movable grate, means for supplying fuel to said grate, and means for moving said grate. as whole rapidly and abruptly changing its vef locity, whereby vthe fuel on the grate will be advanced thereover by the inertiaof said fuel, substantially as described.

In a device for feeding` fuel along a grate, the combination of a grate bodily reciprocable in a furnace, and mechanism for overcoming the friction of the fuel on the grate as a Whole comprising a device for slowly moving; the Ierrate bodily in one direction, spring'mechanism for rapidly moving.,T the .grate bodily inthe reverse direction, and .at-device for abruptly stoppinga said reverse movement. whereby the fuel is advanced through the furnace by the inertia l" In a. device'vfor feeding fuel along a 4 grate. the combination of a grate bodily rec-iprocable in a furnace. and mechanism for overconnnn` the friction ofthe fuel on the grate as a whole comprising a device for' slowly moving' the grate bodllv 1n one direction, spring mechanism for rapidly movingr .the grate bodily in the reverse direction .grate and the fuel thereon comprising' a.

device for slowly moving the grate bodily inone direction, mechanism for quickly moviug'ihe grate bodily in a `reverse direction,"

and devices for suddenly stopping the mo- -tion of the grate in said reverse direction.

'5. ln a Stoker, the combination of a grate bodily reciprocable iu a '.t'urnacc.v means for supplying* fuel to one end of the grate, and

mechanism for moving the fuel th 'ough the furnace toward the other end of the grate comprising' a device for slowly.r movingthe ,grate toward the fuel-supiilying means. meclmnismi for quicklymoving` the grate in the reverse direction, and stopping` mechanism for limiting' the motion of the girate in Vthe said reverse direction, whereby the fuel on the grate b v its inertia continues to move away from said fuel-stuiplving means when 'the `grate is stopped.

tion of afire box lnxvinnj therein a bodily means for rapidly moving said grate. in the opposite direction. and means For moving said ash. pansynchronously with said grate. substantiz lly y:is described.

In an automatic stolier7 the combination of a fire-box, a reciprocating grate, a ieciprocating ash pan below the grate. means for supplying fuel lto the grate, and means for moving and stopping the grate and ash pan to move the fuel and ashes by their inertia upon the grate and ash pan i'espectively` ,v f-

5). ln an automatic stoler, thecombination of a reciprocating` `crate. a 'reciprocating ash pan below thegrate, operating` connections between the grate and ashpan, mechanism for.simultaneously moving the grate and ash pan, vand devices for producing` an abrupt 'change in velocity of said grate and ashpan.

l0. ln an automatic Stoker, the combination of a reciprocating grate, a reciprocating ash pan below the grate, operating; connections between the irate and ash pan, and mechanism for simultaneously moving the grate and ash pan in opposite directions.

1l. ln an automatic stolrer, the combination of a hre-box. a reciprocating grate. means for supplying fuel to the grate, spring: means for moving the grate as a whole, and mechanism for producing an abrupt change ilo ias

in velocity of said grate as a whole to move the fuel on the grate by the inertia of said fuel.

:12. In an automatic stoker, the combination of a grate, spring mechanism for moving the grate as a whole, and devices for abruptly Astopping said grate as a whole.

13. In an automatic Stoker, the combination of a reciprocating grate, a reciprocating ash pan below the grate, operating coniections between thev grate and ash pan, 'spring mechanism for simultaneously moving the grate and ash pan, and devicesl for producing an abrupt change in velocity of said grate and ash pan.

la. In an automatic stoker, the combina-- ltion of a reciprocating grate, a reciprocat- V ing ash pan below the grate, operatinglconnections between the grate and ash pan, and spring mechanism for simultaneously moving the grate and ash pan in opposite directions.

tion of a grate comprising a single structure consisting of a framework vand a plurality -of grate bars, means for supplying fuel to tsaid grate, spring mechanism for moving jsaid structure as a whole., and devices for producing an abrupt change in velocity of said structure as a whole to vmove the fuel on the grate by the inertia of said fuel.l

16. In an automatic stOker, the combination of a reciprocating grate, a reciprocating ash pan below the grate, mechanism for moving the grate and ash pan, and devices for producing an abrupt change in velocity of said grate and ash pan.

17.111 an automatic Stoker, the combination of a reciprocating grate, a reciprocating a'sh pan below the grate, spring mechanism for moving the grate andash pan, and devices for producing an abrupt change .in velocity of said grate and ash pan.

18. In an automatic stoker, the combination of a reciprocating grate, a reciprocating ash pan below the grate, and mechanism 15. In an automatic stoker, the combina-` able grate, of means to move the grate as a whole in the plane thereof -to acquire momentum in fuel on the grate, and means to quickly produce relative movement of the grate with respect to fuel thereon in a direction reverse tothe movement of the fuel with a suddenness sutlicient to break the bond between the fuel and the grate, whereby the fuel may travel on the grate by reason yof the momentum of the fuel.

21. The combination with a grate bodily movable through al furnace, of means to move the grate as a whole inthe plane thereof, and means to quickly produce relative movement of the grate with respect to the fuel by quickly changing the velocity of lmotion of the grateas a whole with a suddenness to break the bond between the fuel and the grate, whereby the'fuel may travel on the-grate in the direction of fuel feed through the furnace by reason of the inertia of the fuel.

29.. -The combination with a grate bodily movable with fuel thereon through a fuinace in the direction of feed of the fuel, of means to produce quick relative movement of the grate as a whole with respect to the fuel thereon with a suddenness suflicient to break the bond between the fuel and the grate, whereby the fuel may travel on the grate.

The combination with a grate bodily movable with .fuel thereon through a furnace in the direction of feed of the fuel,

fof means to successively produce quick relative movements of the grate as a whole with respect to fuel thereon with asuddenness suiicient to break the bond between the fuel and the grate whereby the fuel lmay travel on the 'grate with a step by step movement.

2415. The combination with a grate bodily movable as a. whole with fuel thereon through a furnace in the direction of feed of the fuel, of means to change the velocity Lof the grate with a suddenness suilicient to break the 'bond between the fuel and the grate and thereby quickly produce relative movement of the grate with respect to the fuel, wherebyr the fuel may travel on the grate.

' ENOCH I. STEVENS. Witnesses:

T. D. BUTLER, L. E. HANNEN. 

